More charges laid against registered sex offender in Coaldale

A registered sex offender in Coaldale, Alta.,is facing a new batch of charges.

Trevor Pritchardappeared in a Lethbridge court by closed circuit television on Tuesday for a bail hearing on previous charges.

The charges, which were announced in January, includetwo counts of sexual assault with a minor, luring a child under 16 and sexual contact with a child.

• Registered sex offender in Coaldale charged in more alleged sexual assaults
• Registered sex offender charged with sexual assault of teen in Coaldale

The new charges came to light at the bail hearing and included possessing and accessing child pornography, making child pornography and luring a child under the age of 18 years of age.

Between the three sets of charges, there are four alleged victims, all under the age of 18.

Crown prosecutor Donna Spaner said the new charges arose as a result of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation unit's interpretation of the forensic evidence.

"The time period that the Crown alleges those offences to have been committed pre-date and occur over a greater period of time dating back closer to a year, if not longer," Spaner said.

Pritchard'sdefence lawyer ScottHadfordmade a request in court for the new charges to be dealt with simultaneously with the original charges.

The bail hearing was adjourned for a monthso the Crown can decide whether thenew charges should be dealt with separately.

Pritchardhas been in custody since Jan. 18.

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